Meaning
A narrow escape from danger or disaster.
Primary Function
Near-miss description.
Communicative Purpose
To relate how something was almost avoided.
Pattern
a close call
Core Structure
a close call
Função primária
Near-miss description.
Propósito comunicativo
To relate how something was almost avoided.
Situações de gatilho
Accidents, missed deadlines, close competition.
Contextos
Everyday incidents, sports, business.
Padrão
a close call
Estrutura central
a close call
Slots de substituição
none
Colocados típicos
- that was
- had
- what a
Substituições comuns
- a near miss
- a close shave
Erros comuns
a close call with (prep okay: close call with disaster)
Similar / contraste
a hair’s breadth away
Interferências
Not about phone calls.
Família do chunk
- Escape idioms
Nuance
Relief mixed with alarm.
Efeito pragmático
Adds drama to narrative.
Dica de memória
Car swerving just missing another.
Nota
This idiom is used to describe situations where someone narrowly avoids danger or disaster, emphasizing the relief and alarm of the experience.
Upgrade path
an extremely narrow margin of safety (formal)
Log in to save chunks.